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The Division of the Damned
The second world war is weighted in strife. On the front lines a squad of SS soldiers are sent on a secret mission, to enlist the help of the last vampire, to raise an army which would win the war for Germany.
Ruthless massacre, mayhem and action fuelled rage ensues. Broken, beaten, and turned on by their superiors, the squad end up fighting side by side with an order of fallen cavalry. Their last two loyal members engage the squad into a fight not for Germany, but to save mankind itself from demonic world domination. On the Winter Solstice of 1944 the world would be at their mercy.
The division of the damned is an enemy no one anticipated, their trail of merciless and cunning carnage makes this a noir thriller. Compelling and tense it will flay your soul.
Ruthless massacre, mayhem and action fuelled rage ensues. Broken, beaten, and turned on by their superiors, the squad end up fighting side by side with an order of fallen cavalry. Their last two loyal members engage the squad into a fight not for Germany, but to save mankind itself from demonic world domination. On the Winter Solstice of 1944 the world would be at their mercy.
The division of the damned is an enemy no one anticipated, their trail of merciless and cunning carnage makes this a noir thriller. Compelling and tense it will flay your soul.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 27, 2014
As best I can tell, The Division of the Damned is Richard Rhys Jones' first novel, and it most certainly reads that way. The writing is overly stuffy and formal, with the dialogue in particular reading unrealistically. For example, too often characters lecture other characters on what's happening, which conveniently serves as exposition for the reader as they attempt to sort through the myriad of mystical and religious legends Jones sees fit to include.
Worse though is the absolute lack of scares in the book. Despite the blurb, this reads far less like a horror than a fantasy novel, with the vampires treated more like brainless uber-soliders than bloodthirsty, intelligent creatures of the night. Jones also provides a large cast of characters, many of whom are completely interchangeable, while any that stand out do so mainly because of their nationality or religion. There is also little tension as the book comes to an end, since to my mind at least, there was no doubt how The Division of the Damned was going to play out.
All in all, Jones has crafted a story that looked good in summary but provided little in the way of thrills or chills. Whilst certainly not for me, others looking for a period-based fantasy might obtain more of a kick from it.
2 Vampire Slaying Silver Bullets for The Division of the Damned.
Worse though is the absolute lack of scares in the book. Despite the blurb, this reads far less like a horror than a fantasy novel, with the vampires treated more like brainless uber-soliders than bloodthirsty, intelligent creatures of the night. Jones also provides a large cast of characters, many of whom are completely interchangeable, while any that stand out do so mainly because of their nationality or religion. There is also little tension as the book comes to an end, since to my mind at least, there was no doubt how The Division of the Damned was going to play out.
All in all, Jones has crafted a story that looked good in summary but provided little in the way of thrills or chills. Whilst certainly not for me, others looking for a period-based fantasy might obtain more of a kick from it.
2 Vampire Slaying Silver Bullets for The Division of the Damned.
June 26, 2012
This book had me riveted the whole way through. A fantastic storyline, fascinating characters, lots of action and plenty of tension. The WWII time period also felt very authentic. The vampires themselves were creepy and terrifying like in Bram Stoker's Dracula. If I had to liken the novel to anything, I would say it was a cross between Dracula, The Passage and Band of Brothers and I could easily see this on the big screen. Highly recommended.
April 22, 2012
The idea of SS soldiers being portrayed as heroes in the battle against an even worse evil than the Third Reich appealed to me and I wasn't dissappointed.
The division characters are developed really well so you find yourself fevering for the safety of every one.A novel twist was the Jewish werewolf.
But the evil characters are also described so vividly that they have you shaking in your boots.
The authors military background stands him in good stead when portraying the details of the battle scenes making them come alive for the reader.
All in all a good read that I can thoroughly recommend!
The division characters are developed really well so you find yourself fevering for the safety of every one.A novel twist was the Jewish werewolf.
But the evil characters are also described so vividly that they have you shaking in your boots.
The authors military background stands him in good stead when portraying the details of the battle scenes making them come alive for the reader.
All in all a good read that I can thoroughly recommend!
April 27, 2021
man i remember reading the summary of the book and being hyped about it. But when I read it, it really dragged for me.
there's stuff to make it great but idk it just lagged. i think there's a Jewish werewolf.
there's stuff to make it great but idk it just lagged. i think there's a Jewish werewolf.
December 11, 2013
This is a really good vampire story that develops a series of believable characters over a large canvas of the end of WW2. If you enjoy stories of vampires and nazi's this is a real ripper.
March 15, 2024
Exceptional story!
A great read. Great plot,lots of action. I liked the characters. Wish there was a sequel.I recommend this novel very much!
A great read. Great plot,lots of action. I liked the characters. Wish there was a sequel.I recommend this novel very much!
May 13, 2012
The genre-mixing of the Second World War with the realm of the mystical and supernatural has always had me in its thrall, ever since I watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc as a teenage boy. Seldom tried and even less often successfully so, it has remained a niche genre with limited overall commercial appeal outside two of the Indiana Jones movies. The first Hellboy movie incorporated some of the occult links to the Third Reich and, in my opinion, would have been better all around had it concentrated on such a setting. Not that a Rasputin eldritch abomination wasn't nice, too, don't get me wrong... The last good installment of a WW2/Supernatural mix I know of was the 2008 horror movie Outpost (the less said about the sequel the better). And as far as books go: in case they exist they did theor very best to avoid my attention.
That is until now.
Richard Rhys Jones' novel took me by complete surprise.
The tide of war has turned against the once unstoppable German armies, and Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, is approached by a Romanian count claiming to be part of the ethnic German minority of the Siebenbürger Sachsen who promises him an army of soldiers capable to fight during the night. Enamored by the occult and by the obvious advantages of such a deal he send newly promoted Eastern Front veteran Markus von Struck and a select band of trusted Waffen-SS soldiers into Romania to escort his envoy Dr. Rasch to finalize the deal.
At the same time the British apparently are approached by the same count and decide to send Major James Smith onto a commando operation, dropping him via parachute into the Carparthians.
What starts ordinary enough for the peak of WW2 soon branches out into the fields of legend, religious myths reaching back four thousand years, and horror. The lines between ally and enemy begin to blurr, and soon a motley crew of the most unlikely heroes are all that stand between survival and an all-consuming darkness.
Jones' human characters, even the secondary ones, are all well-rounded, three dimensional people with strengths and weaknesses and they, even more so than the extremely well-paced story, are what carries the novel to its action-packed climax. This is even moreso stunning since a large parts of the protagonist we follow are German Waffen-SS soldiers, a group not commonly atributed with positive traits. But over the course of the narrative Jones manages to turn them into layered, likeable individuals, and while they share the limelight with a handful of other characters like a pair of Jewish KZ inmates who turn into unlikely - and ultimately really satisfying - heroes, they are the true protagonists of The Division of the Damned.
What's at stake and who are the heroes? Well this quote narrows it down more succinctly than I ever could:
"Who'd have thought it would come to this?" Michael asked nobody in particular.
"What?" Rohleder asked without looking up from scrubbing his barrel. "That the final fight for mankind would be fought by a couple of modern-day knights, German SS, an Englishman, a Communist, a Jewish woman and a Jewish werewolf?"
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is The Division of the Damned in all its glory - and it is a glorious read indeed - condensed into half a dozen sentences. If you haven't figured it out by now: I'm totally enamored by this book. If you can even remotely get into the WW2/Horror combination this is a read you must not pass by.
That is until now.
Richard Rhys Jones' novel took me by complete surprise.
The tide of war has turned against the once unstoppable German armies, and Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, is approached by a Romanian count claiming to be part of the ethnic German minority of the Siebenbürger Sachsen who promises him an army of soldiers capable to fight during the night. Enamored by the occult and by the obvious advantages of such a deal he send newly promoted Eastern Front veteran Markus von Struck and a select band of trusted Waffen-SS soldiers into Romania to escort his envoy Dr. Rasch to finalize the deal.
At the same time the British apparently are approached by the same count and decide to send Major James Smith onto a commando operation, dropping him via parachute into the Carparthians.
What starts ordinary enough for the peak of WW2 soon branches out into the fields of legend, religious myths reaching back four thousand years, and horror. The lines between ally and enemy begin to blurr, and soon a motley crew of the most unlikely heroes are all that stand between survival and an all-consuming darkness.
Jones' human characters, even the secondary ones, are all well-rounded, three dimensional people with strengths and weaknesses and they, even more so than the extremely well-paced story, are what carries the novel to its action-packed climax. This is even moreso stunning since a large parts of the protagonist we follow are German Waffen-SS soldiers, a group not commonly atributed with positive traits. But over the course of the narrative Jones manages to turn them into layered, likeable individuals, and while they share the limelight with a handful of other characters like a pair of Jewish KZ inmates who turn into unlikely - and ultimately really satisfying - heroes, they are the true protagonists of The Division of the Damned.
What's at stake and who are the heroes? Well this quote narrows it down more succinctly than I ever could:
"Who'd have thought it would come to this?" Michael asked nobody in particular.
"What?" Rohleder asked without looking up from scrubbing his barrel. "That the final fight for mankind would be fought by a couple of modern-day knights, German SS, an Englishman, a Communist, a Jewish woman and a Jewish werewolf?"
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is The Division of the Damned in all its glory - and it is a glorious read indeed - condensed into half a dozen sentences. If you haven't figured it out by now: I'm totally enamored by this book. If you can even remotely get into the WW2/Horror combination this is a read you must not pass by.
October 4, 2012
The Division of the Damned is an intense, fast-paced, meaty work that kept me riveted. It's got a lot of complex back-story, but in my opinion, the author does an excellent job at explaining it without dumping it on us.
The premise of a vampire army used by the SS army in WWII Europe is fantastic and extremely original. The author is obviously well-versed in the workings of an army division, but he handles the terminology well and it doesn't get confusing.
I admire the way he can weave individual tales together into one cohesive plot. The storylines do mesh together quite well at the end and I read the final ten or so chapters without breathing or even looking away from the book!
Another strength of the author is his ability to give each of his characters depth. They are all individual people with strength and flaws, and he dives into human psyche throughout the read. The book reminded me a bit of All Quiet On The Western Front, because the portrayal of the situations the soldiers were placed in were inhumane, impossible, incomparable to someone who hasn't been there. In Division of the Damned, the men were a cohesive unit who relied only on each other when things got bad. There were casualties, of course, and they were all felt by the stoic group, even as they compartmentalized it and moved on. Their triumphs and heartbreaks were given equal attention, and done beautifully.
I also greatly admired the author's knowledge and skill at telling the ancient biblical/Sumerian/religious aspects of the story. I admit to not knowing much about ancient religion, but this author does and commands great respect by being able to relate what he knows in a concise manner. It was woven into the plot so seamlessly it was as if he was relating a non-fiction book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves vampires that don't sparkle, who are death machines used at the hands of a sadistic killer. I recommend it to anyone who likes a densely-layered, complex storyline that is as well-written as it is engaging. And I recommend it to anyone who simply likes cool books that leave you breathless at the conclusion.
The premise of a vampire army used by the SS army in WWII Europe is fantastic and extremely original. The author is obviously well-versed in the workings of an army division, but he handles the terminology well and it doesn't get confusing.
I admire the way he can weave individual tales together into one cohesive plot. The storylines do mesh together quite well at the end and I read the final ten or so chapters without breathing or even looking away from the book!
Another strength of the author is his ability to give each of his characters depth. They are all individual people with strength and flaws, and he dives into human psyche throughout the read. The book reminded me a bit of All Quiet On The Western Front, because the portrayal of the situations the soldiers were placed in were inhumane, impossible, incomparable to someone who hasn't been there. In Division of the Damned, the men were a cohesive unit who relied only on each other when things got bad. There were casualties, of course, and they were all felt by the stoic group, even as they compartmentalized it and moved on. Their triumphs and heartbreaks were given equal attention, and done beautifully.
I also greatly admired the author's knowledge and skill at telling the ancient biblical/Sumerian/religious aspects of the story. I admit to not knowing much about ancient religion, but this author does and commands great respect by being able to relate what he knows in a concise manner. It was woven into the plot so seamlessly it was as if he was relating a non-fiction book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves vampires that don't sparkle, who are death machines used at the hands of a sadistic killer. I recommend it to anyone who likes a densely-layered, complex storyline that is as well-written as it is engaging. And I recommend it to anyone who simply likes cool books that leave you breathless at the conclusion.
May 27, 2019
A friend recently made a list of authors he liked, incuding this book, which he refered to as the book with the 'effing Nazi vampires'. Needless to say I found that little note pretty enticing.
I went into it expecting either satire, or a thriller. It's neither. Fact is, it reads like historical fiction, which adds an interesting aspect to the whole concept.
Based on what must have been a ton of research of history and religion, Sumerian and Christian, the author wades through the last two years of WWII. In his version of events, a certain Romanian count approaches Himmler, offering him the solution to all his problems - a vampire army. The count, of course, has his own agenda, as does the demon Lillith at his side.
The image of Nazi Germany that Richard Rhys Jones paints is an image along the front lines, of disillusioned soldiers whose once-upon-a-time notions of their own superiority have long died in the reality of the atrocities committed by their regime and fellow soldiers, and who are left with the knowledge that they someday soon will have to pay for it all. It's a believable and relatable picture of fools falling for lies, of regret and despair, and the need to somehow make amends.
The book is unnecessary lengthy in places, and regrettably short in others, the latter especially towards the end, where you'll have to leave an unlikely group of main characters you've come to care about - German, Russian, English, and Jewish - behind enemy lines, and never learn what became of most of them.
All in all, it's a weird, enjoyable read, though another proofread wouldn't have come amiss. The latter is also why I originially rated it three stars, but I've since added a fourth, due to the fact that it's a powerful story that just remains stuck in your head.
I went into it expecting either satire, or a thriller. It's neither. Fact is, it reads like historical fiction, which adds an interesting aspect to the whole concept.
Based on what must have been a ton of research of history and religion, Sumerian and Christian, the author wades through the last two years of WWII. In his version of events, a certain Romanian count approaches Himmler, offering him the solution to all his problems - a vampire army. The count, of course, has his own agenda, as does the demon Lillith at his side.
The image of Nazi Germany that Richard Rhys Jones paints is an image along the front lines, of disillusioned soldiers whose once-upon-a-time notions of their own superiority have long died in the reality of the atrocities committed by their regime and fellow soldiers, and who are left with the knowledge that they someday soon will have to pay for it all. It's a believable and relatable picture of fools falling for lies, of regret and despair, and the need to somehow make amends.
The book is unnecessary lengthy in places, and regrettably short in others, the latter especially towards the end, where you'll have to leave an unlikely group of main characters you've come to care about - German, Russian, English, and Jewish - behind enemy lines, and never learn what became of most of them.
All in all, it's a weird, enjoyable read, though another proofread wouldn't have come amiss. The latter is also why I originially rated it three stars, but I've since added a fourth, due to the fact that it's a powerful story that just remains stuck in your head.
August 18, 2013
This book about World War II and vampires is so different from what I expected it to be. Finally vampires how they should be, blood-thirsty, semi-mindless, human hunting monsters. Controlled by a Master.
It is set during WWII on the Russian front. When I started this book I was ready to hate the German SS monsters and cheer on the vamps for getting them. I was unsure how to feel about the Russians. Both groups were almost equally brutal during that period, although the Germans, in my opinion, deserved a swarm of Vampires to devour them. But then this author does that thing with his characters, he gives them redeemable qualities, very redeemable even. Ack! What now? I actually gotten to like the poor SS soldiers and the Russians! How very cleverly done. No, clever isn’t the right word, skilled it is. Yes, this is an author who knows how to draw you in and feel for each and every character in the book, even the minor ones.
So, I read on and it gets better with every page, chapter after chapter there’s details, emotions, scenes and it all comes alive. You feel you are there with the humans and even the monsters have something that makes you want to ..., well, not save them, but you don’t wish them the worst either!
Everything is worked out to perfection. There’s enough to jog your mind into imagining things, there’s no over-description, and not once do you feel you’ve been left wanting more. It is simply perfect. This book reads as if it’s the real memories of someone who’s lived through the war to tell the tale.
And I’m not giving away any twists or turns, but you will be surprised. In a very good way!
(I have not received any kind of compensation for this review.)
It is set during WWII on the Russian front. When I started this book I was ready to hate the German SS monsters and cheer on the vamps for getting them. I was unsure how to feel about the Russians. Both groups were almost equally brutal during that period, although the Germans, in my opinion, deserved a swarm of Vampires to devour them. But then this author does that thing with his characters, he gives them redeemable qualities, very redeemable even. Ack! What now? I actually gotten to like the poor SS soldiers and the Russians! How very cleverly done. No, clever isn’t the right word, skilled it is. Yes, this is an author who knows how to draw you in and feel for each and every character in the book, even the minor ones.
So, I read on and it gets better with every page, chapter after chapter there’s details, emotions, scenes and it all comes alive. You feel you are there with the humans and even the monsters have something that makes you want to ..., well, not save them, but you don’t wish them the worst either!
Everything is worked out to perfection. There’s enough to jog your mind into imagining things, there’s no over-description, and not once do you feel you’ve been left wanting more. It is simply perfect. This book reads as if it’s the real memories of someone who’s lived through the war to tell the tale.
And I’m not giving away any twists or turns, but you will be surprised. In a very good way!
(I have not received any kind of compensation for this review.)
September 18, 2012
I'm going straight to the point. I liked this book. Vampires of old, werewolves, old demon legends, a war between humans and a war against evil. It's all the gothic stuff I like. I liked that it presented a different history of how vampires came to be and I liked that the plot was laced with the legends of Lilith, something which I, admittedly, have to read up on one of these days (gotta add that to my growing list of fairy tales, legends, and myths to read). I also liked the premise of vampires involving themselves in the war. I don't know how some people might take that since it can be a sensitive topic, but I think the author handled that well. This book is just a good story with a group of heroes that are diverse and interesting and one that you'd absolutely root for.
I liked the writing style, too. The writing was dramatic, for lack of a better word. I liked how the writing style fit the setting and the story. It felt like I was reading an old book.
If you liked Bram Stoker's Dracula, old legends about demons and religions, or if you like war stories, or if you like classic gothic literature, you might enjoy this book! :)
Note: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This review was posted on my blog: http://www.whiteskyproject.com/2012/0...
I liked the writing style, too. The writing was dramatic, for lack of a better word. I liked how the writing style fit the setting and the story. It felt like I was reading an old book.
If you liked Bram Stoker's Dracula, old legends about demons and religions, or if you like war stories, or if you like classic gothic literature, you might enjoy this book! :)
Note: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This review was posted on my blog: http://www.whiteskyproject.com/2012/0...
October 29, 2014
This is old school vampire stuff! Set during WWII, an SS division is sent into Romania to secure the services of nightstalkers, in Germany’s bid to halt the threat of the encroaching Russians. But, boy, what they find is something direct from the underworld of horror tales. Not only do they have to deal with Count Vlad, but also Lilith and the Book of Blood, a werewolf and a crazy scientist bent on finding the formula that will allow these creatures of the night to walk in daytime.
The German soldiers have to decide which side they are on – the insanity of commands from the Reich … or humankind.
There are many twists here, such as Michael, the man with a silver sword and knowledge of ancient ways, an Englishman who is twin to the vampire ruler, a nun under Lilith’s control who gives birth to the new line of power … and more.
A great read, clever and well-structured, and absolutely nail-biting! I’m not usually a fan of vampire tales, but Division of the Damned breaks the mould and is an excellent way to spend cold nights under the covers or warm nights under the stars – beware, though, you might have some odd dreams afterward!
The German soldiers have to decide which side they are on – the insanity of commands from the Reich … or humankind.
There are many twists here, such as Michael, the man with a silver sword and knowledge of ancient ways, an Englishman who is twin to the vampire ruler, a nun under Lilith’s control who gives birth to the new line of power … and more.
A great read, clever and well-structured, and absolutely nail-biting! I’m not usually a fan of vampire tales, but Division of the Damned breaks the mould and is an excellent way to spend cold nights under the covers or warm nights under the stars – beware, though, you might have some odd dreams afterward!
January 27, 2016
If you like your vampires cuddly, sparkly or romantic, then avoid this book! These vampires are true monsters - savage, blood thirsty and utterly evil. By night they are horrific, and if they are ever able to hunt in daylight, then humanity is doomed!
The Third Reich is prepared to help them to just that, if they will help turn the tide of the war. Standing against them is as unlikely a group of heroes as any author ever assembled to save humanity!
The combination makes for a tense, fast paced action / horror story, with a wide and varied cast of characters and a plot full of unexpected twists. I'm no expert on German Army history, but it feels authentic, and the background story of how Vampires came to be is detailed and well developed. There are one or two places where I found the sentence structure a little awkward, but overall the flow was smooth and kept me well involved.
And the idea behind it is chilling in its realism - because if vampires were real, then I can well believe that the Nazis would have tried to use them!
The Third Reich is prepared to help them to just that, if they will help turn the tide of the war. Standing against them is as unlikely a group of heroes as any author ever assembled to save humanity!
The combination makes for a tense, fast paced action / horror story, with a wide and varied cast of characters and a plot full of unexpected twists. I'm no expert on German Army history, but it feels authentic, and the background story of how Vampires came to be is detailed and well developed. There are one or two places where I found the sentence structure a little awkward, but overall the flow was smooth and kept me well involved.
And the idea behind it is chilling in its realism - because if vampires were real, then I can well believe that the Nazis would have tried to use them!
September 22, 2014
This book really surprised me by being so intense and exciting. Himmler has been offered the use of a couple of dozen vampire soldiers trained by a mysterious Count to help the Germans on the Russian front. I thought the book was very well written and the characters easy to identify with.
I don't like, as a rule, to read books on world war 2, or any other war but this book obviously came to my attention because of the vampire theme.A book that gets you thinking of a group of Nazi SS soldiers as the good guys is something different! If the vampire genre is your thing, you'll love this book, oh and throw in Lilith the demon, Adam's first wife, and the odd werewolf the action never stops!
I hope Richard Rhys Jones has other horror stories of this calibre up his sleeve and it's not a one off because I will be eagerly waiting for what he writes next
I don't like, as a rule, to read books on world war 2, or any other war but this book obviously came to my attention because of the vampire theme.A book that gets you thinking of a group of Nazi SS soldiers as the good guys is something different! If the vampire genre is your thing, you'll love this book, oh and throw in Lilith the demon, Adam's first wife, and the odd werewolf the action never stops!
I hope Richard Rhys Jones has other horror stories of this calibre up his sleeve and it's not a one off because I will be eagerly waiting for what he writes next
September 14, 2012
Engaging characters, shifting and interesting loyalties, a great historical backdrop, and an exciting plot make this book a must-read, not to mention the use of old school “we want to eat humans and we don’t sparkle” camp of vampires that hardcore bloodsucker fans will relish. I also found the author’s incorporation of Sumerian mythology and its fusion with Jewish legends, demonology, books of blood, stories of Christian knights, and vampirism to be a dynamic combination that gives this novel a leg up on the competition. Although I didn’t enjoy the destiny elements relating to James and Dracyl, Division of the Damned has a fantastic cinematic quality that will have vampire fans drooling and definitely wanting more.
February 7, 2013
Still on vampires, or vampyres if you prefer, but this book has an intriguing premise - what if the German army had recruited a night-fighting force, a division of vampires, in fact?
I am not much for WII adventure yarns, or for any war yarns for that matter, but there is something about the Russian front which is rather more bleak and eery than standard warfare, and there is a fair amount of detail in this book about the provenance of vampires from pre-Biblical times, Lilith and all that.
So, not really my kind of reading, but this book got me anyway and Richard Rhys Jones is undoubtedly an interesting writing talent. I get to read his new 'The House in Wales' in a few days and I am definitely looking forward to it.
I am not much for WII adventure yarns, or for any war yarns for that matter, but there is something about the Russian front which is rather more bleak and eery than standard warfare, and there is a fair amount of detail in this book about the provenance of vampires from pre-Biblical times, Lilith and all that.
So, not really my kind of reading, but this book got me anyway and Richard Rhys Jones is undoubtedly an interesting writing talent. I get to read his new 'The House in Wales' in a few days and I am definitely looking forward to it.
September 1, 2013
"No mercy, only butchery and then gorging on the blood of the fallen." God I'm going to love this book...starting it now...will update this when I'm done. You can tell right off that it was written by a man. The vampires are hideous and without any sex apeal. Well, I have to be honest, I'm disappointed because that opening line was killer but it just didn't grab me. I'm 67% through it and I don't care about any of the characters. It wasn't scary, it wasn't sexy. Vampires should either be scary or sexy. I would have settled for sparkly even but they were lifeless servants, robots. There was no passion. I decided to stop here and move on. It just wasn't for me.
August 10, 2012
Kinda thought this was gonna be crap. I love being surprised though. This is a great, multi layered story with fleshed out characters. I'm not the biggest fan of Nazis, but it was a pleasant surprise to find that the author made them whole characters. I would say the one weakness is the villains. Although they're also fairly well rounded, I can't help but wonder if it would have been possible to include more information about them. This book is relatively thin (approx. 350 pages) so it's not surprising that not all of the characters get the same level of depth. It's a quick, fast paced, and really engaging read that mixes history w/ fantasy in a semi believeable fashion.
October 22, 2015
When I first read of the concept for this book, I raised a doubtful eyebrow, pursed my lips, and went "Hmmmm...." How wrong I was! The light side was light, the dark side dark, and the plot was so unpredictable that it kept me on edge until the very end, and I do mean on edge! Wonderfully written and well-researched, and if I'm not mistaken, the author created a plausible lineage for the House of Drakyl almost from scratch - something you don't usually find in this sort of story - making the tale that much more credible.
Congratulations to Jones on a story well told. Highly recommended.
Congratulations to Jones on a story well told. Highly recommended.
October 26, 2016
I like a good war story and enjoy books with vampires so I was looking forward to reading a book with them both combined. What I like about this the most is this is a more ‘traditional’ vampire story the likes of Dracula. The story weaves its way through vampire history and legend while the characters develop with ease. As I drew towards the action-packed, climatic ending, I found I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book if you want to read a WWII story with a twist or a vampire story with depth.
October 30, 2012
Great novel by a guy with brilliant ideas of how to mix Vampires (the proper ones) with the German war machine. He even manages to make you feel compassion for the SS troops plight.
The story escalates far beyond the realms of what I imagined after reading the description and I found it hard to put it down.
Research must have been heavy with all the angles of doom but it all works...if I go into anymore detail it will spoil the story.
A great page turner and highly recommended.
The story escalates far beyond the realms of what I imagined after reading the description and I found it hard to put it down.
Research must have been heavy with all the angles of doom but it all works...if I go into anymore detail it will spoil the story.
A great page turner and highly recommended.
September 30, 2012
If you like vampire stories, you'll like this book. Just imagine if Hitler had a division of vampires fighting behind the lines on the Russian front? This story takes you from the concentration camps, to Berlin and to the dark forest of Transylvania. It is an entertaining read.
June 5, 2014
Not what expected - drew me in.
I started reading three times. but when I got pass the 1st chapter I couldn't put it down till the end. the characters became real and I worried for each of them.
I started reading three times. but when I got pass the 1st chapter I couldn't put it down till the end. the characters became real and I worried for each of them.
October 22, 2012
I had recently watched the film Dead Snow so when I saw a book about Nazi vampires I could not resist. But it felt overly long and would have benefited from a severe edit. Good ending though.
January 21, 2013
This was a really unique, original take on the vampire theme and had me entertained the whole way through. I'm not fanatical about vampire novels, but this one was good, give it a go!
March 25, 2013
3.5
It was good, but dragged somewhat.
It was good, but dragged somewhat.
April 23, 2013
Very cool. Melodramatic, slightly campy, and still pretty darn scary. When the SS are the good guys, watch out.
July 9, 2013
I tried. My husband liked it. I just couldn't get into it. Strangely (considering what I usually read) this book was just to unbeliveable.
May 31, 2013
WAS NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN I GOT THIS KINDLE BOOK, BUT WHAT A BOOK, REALLY ENJOYED IT. WAR AND VAMPIRES WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? GOOD BOOK, GOOD READ.
May 1, 2014
This one has it all! A really great read, and very well written.
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